Suction cleaner



L. E. SEGESMAN SUCTI'ON CLEANER Feb. 21, w50

Filed Jun 13, 1945 [72 ver2/07 .mb wf@ Feb. 2i, 1950 L. E. SEGESMAN SUCTION CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 13, 1.945

' fn moza far, isi.' Seyesmcm y 5 Feb. 21, 195ov L. E. SEGESMAN 2,498,098

I SUCTION CLEANER Filed June 13, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet C5 HUI! Il vide a new and improved suction cleaner.

Patented Feb. 21, 1950 v SUCTION CLEANER Louis E. Segesman, Canton,

North Canton, Ohio, a corlHoover Company, poration of Ohio Ohio, assignor to The l Application June 13, 1945, Serial No.1599i'3147 claims. (c1. 18s- 54) The present invention relates to suction cleanvers in general and more particularly to a new and improvedlter-cleaning mechanism in a suction cleaner. More specifically the invention comprises a tank type cleaner which is adapted to be -placed upon end and thereafter the dirt lter vi- .brated -tofdislodge adhering foreign material lwhich'may thereupon. drop onto the underlying supporting surface. f v

It isa -purpose of thepresent invention to pro- It is another object ofthe invention to-provide new and improvedbagfcleaning means in a suction cleaner. A still further object of the invention is Ato provide-a tank ty-pe suction cleaner which is `adapted to be placed upon its open end, after the removal of its cover plate, and thereafter have its lter bag vibrated by operator-operable means. Still another object of the invention isto provide a tank type suction cleaner'in which means are provided lby which the enclosed bag may be violently agitated by an operator-supplied force to the end that collected foreign material may drop from the bag through the open mouth thereof and onto an underlying surface covering, the cleaner being's'u'pported upon its open end. A further object of the invention isgto providea new and novel unitary bag-shaking mechanism adapted to be positioned within the main casing of a suction vcleaner uponfthe removal of the removable end cap thereof. These and other more specific objects'will appear'upo'n'readng the fol'- -lowing' 'specification and claims and upon considering connection therewith the' attached drawin'gsto'which they relate." f

Referring now tothe drawings in which a, lpreferrdembodim'ent of the invention 'is disclosed: iiigu'r'e" a' longitudinal vertical section through a' cleaner constructed in' accordance withth'e present invention; 1

'f Figurei2 isa-vertical transverse section upon the line 2 2 of Figure 1; Figure 3` is aviewin perspective of the bagshaking structure -removed from the cleaner;

"Figure 4 is a partial top view of the structure shown in Figure 3: z r

Figure 5 is a partial bottom view of the cleaner showing the operator-operable foot pedal. Inthe drawings the outer elongated main casing of thecleaner is indicated by the reference characterl I. closed vby-a cover or cap 2 which is permanently secured in placeandwhich is provided with a .dustingftoolfconnecting:port 3.. The oppositev lend is provided withfanintake port 1 adapted to receive and seatthe cleaner end of a dusting tool unit in the same manner as port 3. The cover 6 is removably retained in place on the casing by being provided at its lowermost point withA a protruding lip B which seats within a receiving pocket 9 formed at the end of a bracket II. A manually operable latch vided at the top of the cleaner casing and is adapted to cooperate with the top portion of cover 4(i to force that'element against the end wall or face I3 of the machine, a suitable resilient lseal I4 being provided to prevent leakage of air.

1 Casing I is slidablysupported upon longitudinally extended runners I6 of a common and well known type Which enable the operator to pull the machine over the `supporting surface by means of a force exerted through the dusting tool hose. There is also provided along the top of the cleaner casing a handle I1 which is preferably of the strap type and which provides means by which One end of casing` I is permanently the operator can place. ,i

Within casing I, and near the en d thereof closed by the end cap 2,.-is a motor-fan unit. vThe motor is indicated at 2l and the shaft 22 thereof extends liftv the cleaner from place to into the fan chamber 23 Where it carries the rotatable fans 24 whichare separated by a fixed guide vane structure 26. The fan chamberis formed with anA intake port 21 and with exhaust ports 28. The vunit is supported at its forward end by means of a resilient rubberring 29 which lies around the forward edge of the fan chamber 23 and-which is itself supported by a xed bulkhead 2I in the casing l. .At its opposite end the motor-fan unit is carried by a second resilient ring indicated atA 32.which encircles the hub of the motor casing-2| andwhich is itself carried by a perforated bulkhead e1ement'33 flxedly secured in casing I.I The forward bulkhead 3I is also perforated and-is contoured to provide a shoulder 34 which seats and frictionally retains a perforated cap 36 to form a chamber 31 within which is positioned suitable filtering material to provide a secondary filter,V the primary filter beingan ordinary filter .bag as will be described.

On the suction side of the motor-fan unit, and between the bulkhead 3| and the cover 6, is positioned the principal nlter of the cleaner comprising an air-permeable dirt bag 4I. The open end `of bag 4I is secured to arfiange 42 which denes a central aperture through the end plate or ring I3. Theoppsite end of the bag is similarlyk se cured tol an'infierlbag ring 43 from the opposite --sides ofwhichbrackets 48 extend. Arms IIB` and I2', of the overcentertype, is pro- 41 pivotally connect to each bracket 48 and are also pivoted at their lower ends to a base plate 5l which lies along the lower portion of the casing I and which is xedly secured, as by welding, to the forward bag ring I3. Base plate 5I is materially lightened as by punching a plurality of holes therethrough and is formed on two levels, the lower Vlevel lying upon the casing I ,whilethe upper level is spaced thereabove. Base plate 5I is secured relative to the bottom of casing I by one or more spring clips 52, illustrated in Figure l. It should be pointed out that the pivoted warms 46 and 41 are equal in length and have their pivot points at their opposite ends spaced equidistant so that as the arms pivot the bracket abutting shoulder 12. Similarly, an operatorapplied force upon the pedal 8l effects the pivotal movement of the lever 1I and so the pawl 16 within the casing I. Release of the operatorappled force upon the pedal 6I permits the spring 84 to return the lever 1I and pawl 16, together with the pedal 8 I, to their initial positions.

'The operation of the cleaner 'constructed in accordance with the present invention may be described as follows: In normal cleaner operation dirt-laden air is drawn through a suitable dustingtool unit connected to the intake port 1 in the cover 6 and passes into the iilter bag 4I. Filter .4I removes from the air stream the suspended elements 48 at all times remain parallel to the major longitudinal axis oi the .cleaner which-results in the bag ring 43 also remaining Aparallel with the bag ring I3 at the opposite iilter 4I.

Arms 46 are `intercoru'iected below their pivots upon the base plate 5I and a coil spring 56 :is connected thereto and at lits opposite end vto a plate 51 permanently secured upon the top oibase plate 5I. all times to move arms 46, and accordingly connected arms 41 and bag ring 43, rearwardly ywithin the casing I and to draw the .bag 4I taut. The side edge of plate `51 is turned upwardly 'at lan angle and cooperates with a guideplate 6 I, which is suitably secured yas by screws 62, to form a longitudinally directed guideway within'which is mounted for sliding movement a slide 64 which carries a roller contact-66 at its end. Slide 64 is connected by a stiff wire or rod 61 to the pivoted arm 41 so that the two elements can only move simultaneously. Movement of the slide 64 toward the end ring I3 functions to pivot the pairs of arms 46 and 41 and to stretch the coil spring 56 4I to 4grow slack.

thereby permitting the `bag Clearly a sudden release o'f the slide 64 will permit the coil spring 56 to jerk the pivoted arms and the bag ring 43 to their initial positions, drawing the bag 4I taut. Y

'To eiect the movement of the slide 64 there is provided a pivoted lever 1I carried upon the upper surface of the upper level oi base plate 5i. Lever 1I is provided with a downwardly extending shoulder 12 which passes through a slot .13 vformed in plates .5| 1I and carried thereby is a pivoted pawl 16 which vis `at all times pivoted in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures `3 and 4, by a spring 11. The pawl 16 is formed l,with a sloping forward end adapted to contact the roller contact 66..on the ,slide 64 and `is `so contoured and Shaped that, as the lever 1I pivotsvin a counterclockwise" direction as vviewed .in 'Figures 3 and I1i, the pawl will move the slide 64 against'the tension exerted by spring 5B, until suoli time as it shall move in its curved path beyond and inside of the contact ytil. The release of the contact 66 permits the coil spring '56 to jerk the pivoted arms 46 and 41, the carried bag ring 43, and the 'slide 64 back to their initial positions.

A pivotedfoot pedal or lever 8l is provided upon 4the Vunderside of the casing I, being keyed to a pin B2 which extends within the casing to be keyed to lever 83, the extremity of which abuts the depending shoulder 12 upon the pivoted lever 1I. Lever 83 is at all times held in its retracted position, illustrated in Figures 3 and 44, by means ci a second coil spring 84 connected tothe aforedescribed lever'16. The forceof the spring is transmitted frornlever 16 to vlever 63 Atlirough'tlie end of the 'Spring 56 exertsa force which tends at and 51. Upon Vpivoted'lever f filter bag 4I reduces the foreign .material `and the clean air passes outwardly through the wall of the bag and into the space denedby the surrounding main casing l. Beiore entering the fans, which are rotated by the motor 2|, the air .iirst passes through the secondary lter 31 to remove any remaining particles which -may have escaped from "the initial separator 4I. The cleaned air passes into the an system at the intake 'or Yeye 21 `of "the fan chamber 23 and is exhausted, :after passing through vthe fans '24 and "the guide vane element 16,29% the exhaust ports 28 `inte the space .within fthe casing l surrounding'themotorll. 'This space is separated from thefspace aroundith-e filter bag -l'l by the bulkhead 3l. The air then passes through the foraminous bulkhead 33 'and outwardly finto the surrounding atmosphere 'via the-exhaust port 3 `in the permanently attached cover 2. l 'This voperation can lcontinue vuntil such vtime as the accumulation of foreign lmaterial within the effectivesuction of the Vmachine thereby reducing vcleaner eiiiciency. vThereupon it becomes desirable to remove the foreign material from the bag.

The bag-cleaning operation comprises `initially the removal of the end ycap .6. This is accomplished bythe operator releasing the cover latch I2 whereupon the cover 6 .pivotsoutwardly at its upper end to permit the downwardly extending lip .B-on the underside thereof to disengage its socket 9. The cleaneriis then open endedand the operator tilts it so that 4ring or plate l'3..lies .ush .upon the .supporting surface which is preferably provided with a ,receiving paper -or `the like. With the machine Iso positioned the pedal .82| ,extends substantially .horizontally Jand .is :positioned .near the lower end -.of the machine. Also, the .bag 4I is arranged withits .open mouth :facing downwardly.

To ldislodge the foreign material from the `bag and to clean it the :operator .now exerts a downward pressure upon the `pedal *8l which results in the pivotal movement :of xthe `lever TH and the pawl 16 carried thereby. previously described, the movement of the pawl 16 brings .it into `contact with the roller 66 Whereuponthe slide 264 :moves toward 'the ring I3 :and 'effects 'the pivotal movement of the supporting :arms 4B and "41-'o the bag ring '43. This movement of bag ring 43 provides asl'ack Within .the bag which increases until the pawl 16 rides under andpast the `roller contact 66, due toits curved' 'path' o'f travel. Thereupon the 'coil spring 56 :jerks the bag Aring 43 back `to its original position in which the ibag was taut, this being )accomplished 'by the pivotal force which it exerts upon the larms 46. This abrupt vibration ofgthe bag leffects the dislocation of adhering foreign material which thereupon falls downwardly through the'centra'l aperture of 'bag yring or ,plate I3 `to lrest upon 'the `under'- 'lying supporting surface. The bag--shaking'fop'- eration should be repeated a plurality of times to insure complete cleaning of the bag.

After the bag has been adequately cleaned the operator need only tilt the machine back into its original operating position, replace the cover 6 in the obvious manner, and the machine is again ready for cleaning operation.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, an elongated casing, means to support said casing Inova-bly with its major axis extended horizontally, a removable cover for the end of said casing, said casing, with said cover removed, presenting an open end adapted to seal upon a supporting surface to support said casing with its major axis extended vertically, a iilter bag in said casing with its open end opening toward the open end of said casing, a frame supporting the closed end of said bag, frame-supporting means movably supporting said frame, spring means exerting a force to move said frame from said open end to draw taut the side Wall of said bag, a slide connected to said frame-supporting means, a pivoted lever movable to slide said slide to move said frame-supporting means toward said open end, said lever being adapted to release said slide so that means can return said frame-supporting means to its original position abruptly to dislodge collected foreign material, and means on the outside of said casing to actuate said lever.

2. In a suction cleaner, an elongated casing, means to support said casing movably with its major axis extended horizontally, a removable cover for the end of said casing, said casing, with said cover removed, presenting an open end adapted to seal upon a supporting surface to support said casing with its major axis extended vertically, a filter bag in said casing with its open end opening toward the open end of said casing, a frame supporting the closed end of said bag, frame-supporting means movably supporting said frame, spring means exerting a force to move said frame from said open end to draw taut the side Wall of said bag, a slide connected to said frame-supporting means, a pivoted lever movable to slide said slide to move said framesupporting means toward said open end, said lever including a pivoted spring-urged pawl adapted to release said slide after a predetermined movement, second spring means urging said lever to its initial position upon the removal of the pivoting force thereon, said pawl pivoting against the force of its spring as it moves past said slide, and a pedal on the exterior of said casing to pivot said lever.

3. In a suction cleaner, an elongated casing, means to support said casing movably with its major axis extended horizontally, a removable cover for the end of said casing, said casing, with said cover removed, presenting an open end adapted to seal upon a supporting surface to support said casing with its major axis extended vertically, a filter bag in said casing with its open end opening toward the open end of said casing, a frame supporting the closed end of said bag, frame-supporting means movably supporting said frame, spring means exerting a force to move said frame from said open end to draw taut the side Wall of said bag, a slide connected to said lframe-supporting means, a pivoted lever movable to slide said slide to move said frame-supporting means toward said open end, said lever including a pivoted spring-urged pawl adapted said spring.

to release said slide after a predetermined move ment, second spring means urging said lever to its initial position upon the removal of the pivoting force thereon, said pawl pivoting against the force of its spring as it moves past said slide, a pedal on the exterior of said casing to pivot said lever, a base plate slidable into said casing through said open end and mounting said frame, frame-supporting means, spring means, slide and lever as a removable unit, and means to retain said unit in said casing.

4. In a suction cleaner, an elongated casing, means to lsupport said casing movably with its major axis extended horizontally, a removable cover for the end of said casing, said casing, with said cover removed, presenting an open end adapted to seal upon a supporting surface to support said casing with its major axis extended vertically, a filter bag in said casing with its open end opening toward the open end of said casing, a base plate below said iilter supported by said casing, a rigid bag ring at one end of said plate holding the open end of said bag distended and forming the open end of said casing, a frame at the closed end of said filter, frame-supporting means mounting said frame on said plate for movement toward and from said open end, spring means between said frame-supporting means and said plate exerting a force to draw said bag taut, a slide on said plate connected to said frame-supporting means, a pivoted lever on said casing to move said slide to move said frame-supporting means toward said open end, and a pedal on the outside oi said casing to actuate said lever.

5. In a suction cleaner, an elongated casing, means to support said casing movably With its major axis extended horizontally, a removable cover for the end of said casing, said casing, with said cover removed, presenting an open end adapted to seal upon a supporting surface to support said casing with its major axis extended vertically, a i'llter bag in said casing opening toward said open end of said casing, a unit removable as such from the open end of said casing and including means to support and means to shake said bag, and an operator-operable pedal carried by the exterior of said casing and connected to said means to shake said bag and adapted to receive an actuating force to operate said means to shake said bag.

LOUIS E. SEGESMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATESy PATENTS Number Name Date 971,013 Smith Sept. 20, 1910 1,295,711 Dod Feb. 25, 1919 1,864,622 Sutherland June 28, 1932 1,933,105 Forsberg Oct. 31, 1933 1,946,665 Bieth Feb. 13, 1934 2,022,249 Lofgren Nov. 26, 1935 2,192,357 Leathers Mar. 5, 1940 2,286,421 Kahn June 16, 1942 2,304,309 Leathers Dec. 8, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 700,388 Germany Nov. 21, 1940 

